Summerrain

Love my surgeon, he really cares about his patients, doesn't make you feel bad in any way, answers every question thoroughly and doesn't shove you out if his room quickly to get to the next patient. Mine had me do a month on optifast pre- op, post op was first week liquids, second week mushies, third week solids. Got my first fill at the end of week three and then every two weeks till I hit the green zone. Even though I had fills every two weeks they weren't huge, just small amounts.

Poor you Donna, you've been through the finger these last few days. I hope you get better quickly.

Don't panic, probably a bit of fluid retention. I had the same happen when I started mushies and it disappeared after a few days. Drink your water, it helps flush retained fluids out.

The band has suppressed my appetite, sure I get hungry when it's time to eat but not that raging hunger I used to have pre band. To me the band is like being on duromine without the side effects. When I'm hungry and it's time to eat that half to one cup satisfies me till next meal which is about five to six hours between meals for me at the moment.

Yes with a lot of exercise and food monitoring. There will be weeks or even months of plateaues which can be frustrating and the less you'll have to loose as you get closer to goal the harder those few pounds will be harder to shift. I'm trying not to say I want to loose this much weight in a year as I might be disappointed and frustrated along the way when I hit those plateaues and I've already hit a few, I'm just going to take it week to week and be happy with a loss no mater hiw big or small. Initially I wanted all my weight off in a year but don't think that's going to happen as I have so much to loose and my surgeon said up to two years is more realistic for me. But not saying you can't do it, I hope you do.

Congrats, keep on shrinking, it's such a good feeling.

Jumps up and down, I have one of those but I always referred to it as a sway back. Mine has gone down heaps with a 60 pound loss but ill always have one, even at 55 kilos in my 20's I had it and hated it but the guys loved it lol.

1 Medium head caulifl ower, cut into florets 2.5oz Light cream cheese (An alternative option is using low fat smooth ricotta cheese) 1 Clove garlic, crushed Salt and pepper to taste Chives, chopped Steam cauliflower until tender. Place in a blender or food processor with the cream cheese, garlic and salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Garnish with chopped chives and cracked pepper. If the mixture is too thick, try adding a small amount of salt reduced stock while blending. This is a recipe I used to use on another weightloss program many years ago.

Could the allergies, mucous plugs be related to some foods you're eating. I know if I have milk products they cause my body to produce a lot of mucous. Maybe meeting with a dietician can help you identify trigger foods if that us the problem.

Good luck!!!!!

Hope you're eyes a dry by now. I am sure the majority of us have eaten something we weren't supposed to on certain stages. Just get back on track. I've had pizza too, early on when I first went on solids, only had half a slice and it made me sick because it was too heavy. The smell was much nicer than the taste! Hugs you'll be fine, it's all new with this lapband and takes time and willpower.

Ginger or chamomile tea is good for an upset tummy, hope you're feeling better by now.

I remember having something similar to what you've described, it was like a constant stitch pain , you know like when you run, when I'd breath in it hurt and could only breath to a certain depth, I had it for about two weeks then it settled, it also felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest for a good two weeks before he decided to move on. Hopefully it's nothing serious for you and just part if the healing process and yes a good thing to query it with your doctor just to be on the safe side.

I take mine after dinner as sometimes in the mornings I find I'm a bit tighter, by night time I'm fine and have no problems taking any if my Vitamins without crushing them. I take two Swiss women's Vitamin capsules, Biotin and Vitamin D with calcium ( those ones are large but they go down ok). My dietician said if I were to have problems taking any medication to try a bit of yoghurt with them to help them slide through the band.

First of all I'm going to say congratulations on your weightloss so far, you've done fantastic. I'm sorry too you don't have that encouraging support from your mum, it hurts, our mums are so important to us and we should always expect support no matter what, unfortunately not all mums are like that. For the longest time, pretty much my whole life, I would hurt so much when I'd get negativity from the people I loved most. I'm one of those people that always put everyone before me and made them happy even if I wasn't. This last year I've changed so much, not only because of my band but because I finally reached my limit with selfish, negative people and I have put ME first. I have been so unhappy for so long and it's time for me to make myself happy. I've developed a thicker skin and removed myself from the negative people, their loss because I always came through for them, this includes my mother and my sister. I've finally found something that is working for me regarding loosing weight and I gave a grin ear to ear everyday, my confidence levels have soared. If my mum asks me how I'm going, I just say really well and smile. If she says something negative I ignore it, I'm not letting anyone or anything drag me down again. My weightloss is my business and my surgeons business, period. If anyone in my life is not happy with it, tough I don't care! So what I'm saying is stand tall, be proud if your achievements no matter how big or small and don't let anyone discourage you with your weightloss. Loosing weight with the lapband can be a slow process but in the end all those little losses add up. When youre feeling alone and discouraged come to us, we are all in the same journey and we will encourage you and cheer you on. To have not done something about your weightloss if you weren't happy would have been a negative, to loose the weight no matter How you are doing it and no matter how fast or slow it's coming off is a positive. Smile you've done fantastic so far!!!

I drink with my meals if I need to but it's important to wait a few mins to be certain the food has passed through the band. After drinking you also have to wait a few mins. As instructed by my surgeon it's ok to drink with meals. Have been doing this since day one and am lucky to have not had any problems and I'm down over 60 pounds in nearly four months.

I've started reading again, I have over thirty unread books I kept buying. I do seem to be spending more time cooking healthy meals for the family, have always loved cooking. I now go out nearly everyday whereas before I started loosing weight I'd only go out to take kids to school or drive them around to their sports after school. I'm spending time in the garden again. At night time I play an online game called dungeons and dragons, lol, keeps me busy and not thinking about snacking. I'm also planning on repainting my kitchen, family room and maybe the kids bedrooms, we shall see how that goes. Just loving life again. It's like I've rediscovered the real me again. I'm constantly on the go and don't sit down till about 8 pm these days and no longer need nanna naps in the afternoons! Oh and I've pulled out my craft box with my half made bears.

Congrats and love your positive attitude!!

Ditto to what elcee said, 3 to 4 hours is probably more the norm between meals. An indication also for needing a bit of a top up is waking up hungry.

You poor thing. I hope you settle quickly. It's only 5.23 pm here in Australia, I'm supposed to be cooking dinner but I'm on the forum lol. Kids are going to start screaming I'm starving them soon. I remember having a bad experience with Pringles chips when I was pregnant with my first born. I was violently ill for a whole day after eating half a tube and to this day, nearly 18 years later, whenever I see the packet I turn as green as the packet they come in. So yes I agree they are the devils food!!

As some if the others have said you probably have irritation. I've also been told if I get stuck to try coke as the bubbles should make you burp and dislodge the stuck food, I've never had to try it as eventually it just comes out on its own like a projectile vomit, ewww lol and it hurts. Maybe get your Vitamin levels checked out. When my son or husband are run down or low on vitamin b's they suffer from those painful ulcers. I can't even begin to imagine how painful your mouth must be ATM, I hope you get back in track quickly.

By restriction do you mean the green zone? If so to me it means I have to take very small bites of food, wait a minute at least between bites otherwise I get stuck. I don't wake up hungry and eat my first meal of the day between 10 am and 11 am. I don't get hungry again for at least five to six hours. I'm satisfied on just over half a cup of food per meal. I no longer get that urge to snack at night either. I do from time to time still get a chocolate craving and when I do I eat my chocolate. My hunger is finally in control with the amount of restriction I have. That's what restriction/ greenzone is to me.

What you're feeling/ experiencing is normal, it's hard and I remember having lots if down days because I thought I would have restriction with a few fills. It takes many fills to get the band to where it needs to be. Some people are lucky and only need a few fills others need many more. The first few fills I felt no different and was hungry all the time and could eat much more than the cup full that was recommended. As I got more and more fills I got more restriction was able to eat less and go longer between meals. Patience is the key with lapband, this I have had to learn also. Some days I'd say why did you do this to yourself when it feels no different to not having a band. I'm three and a half months out now, have enough fills to have my band working as it should. So please don't be discourage and understand its a slow process with the fills to get to the green zone and so much easier when you get there.

It sounds like you have swelling and irritation from pbing, it's happened to me twice so I just had liquids for a few days till it settled then slowly moved back to soft mushies for a few days then back to solids. If you keep trying to eat whilst you have the swelling and irritation you'll keep making it even worse. Of course let your doctor know but maybe till you speak see him/ her just stick to liquids. Oh and try not to stress out as stress can tighten the band too. I hope you get it sorted out quickly it's not pleasant.

Yes you are blind, you look fantastic and you can see a huge difference in the photos.